Real world learning: Delavan-Darien High School hopes to start EMT classes next year

DELAVAN—If everything goes as planned, students at Delavan-Darien High School soon will have the opportunity to learn how to stop bleeding from a major artery.

And despite how it might sound, it's a skill that would look great on a transcript.

On Monday, Delavan-Darien District Administrator Robert Crist told the school board about seven students already had expressed an interest in EMT classes that might be held at the high school next year.

In an interview before the meeting, Crist said someone from Gateway Technical College contacted him about the program.

“I replied right away,” Crist said. “I thought that would be a great opportunity for our students.”

If enough students sign up, Gateway would send an instructor to the school.

“We would pay for it, but the instructors would be on site,” Crist said.

The classes would be run through the state's Youth Options programs.

Youth Options allows high school juniors and seniors who meet certain requirements to take classes at a technical college, a University of Wisconsin campus or a private college, according to the state Department of Public Instruction website.

Classes can count toward both high school and college credits, according to the website.

Many students use the program to take nursing assistant courses while still in high school.

Depending on the subject of the EMT class, it could be used for an elective or a science credit, Crist said.

“The biggest thing is to provide training for something that could be a life long vocation,” Crist said.

In addition, having such classes on their transcripts would help students in any post-graduation pursuits.

The Delavan-Darien School Board has to approve participation in Youth Options before the program can proceed, Crist said. That could happen as early as December.

Students from other schools could travel to Delavan-Darien to participate in the courses, Crist said.